Hi, I lived on Castle Vale between 1988 and 93 in one of the 'centre 8'; Cosford Tower. Like most other people, I have good and bad memories of the Vale- 99% of the people I remember were just ordinary people trying to get by, but the other 1% really seemed to make themselves a nighmare to live near. I remember putting 3 locks on the front door and reinforcing the frame with steel to prevent burglary- many of the people in the block had been burgled at one time or another.
I also remember Birmingham Cable (before it became Virgin Media) installing cable TV to the flats...a dish on the roof of the block complete with amplifiers in a 'locked' cupboard in the main entrance. Needles to say, we didn't have cable TV for very long!!!
But apart from that, I had a whale of a time on the Vale and made some good friends when I was there. Many evenings would be spent in neighbours' flats and beer and bottles of wine... you get the picture. I remember the Artful Dodger was a really popular pub, although to be honest, I never went in.
It all looks so different now. The old shopping centre became really run down before I left. I remember asking if there were any vacancies in the old Kwik Save, and being told the the only one available was as a security guard...I wanted to keep my teeth so I didn't go for it!
I also remember the kerfuffle when the HAT took over... and when we were asked to vote, a Birmingham housing inspector saying that it would be the best thing if the HAT took over the Vale...and looking at it today, it looks as though he was right!